[ECOLOG-L] Lab/Field technician position

[Emily Moran]

Lab/Field Assistant Job
 I am a plant biologist at UC Merced looking for at least one full-time lab & 
field assistant.  Research in our lab centers on forest ecology & genetics, 
particularly responses to climate change. The technician appointment would be 
for 6 months, with potential for renewal for a further 6 months.  Starting pay 
$14.57/hour.  I am hoping to hire one person starting as soon as possible this 
fall (late Sept – early Oct), with a possible second hire starting in January 
2016.
Candidates must have a bachelor’s degree in a biology-related field, good 
organizational and time management skills, basic computer skills (excel, word 
processing, etc.), and a driver’s license.  Candidates must have experience 
with plant genetics, including sequencing, DNA extraction, PCR.  Experience 
developing or working with SNPs would be desirable.  Ecology field experience, 
including measuring and identifying trees, collecting seed, etc. is also be 
desirable.  Additional skills that would be helpful (but not necessarily 
required) include experience with plant propagation, a working knowledge of 
statistics, and/or R programming.  Please note if you have a driver’s license 
and access to a vehicle.
Under-represented minorities are particularly encouraged to apply.
Duties will include assisting with development of SNP markers for Ponderosa 
pine alongside collaborators at Davis, helping to set up field sites in Sequoia 
National Park, assisting with equipment ordering and testing of protocols in 
the lab, literature searches, cleaning and maintaining laboratory equipment, 
and data entry and analysis.
The laboratory assistant will also be expected to participate in lab meetings 
and update his/her skills by reading and participating classes/workshops as 
necessary.
To apply, please send me your CV and a cover letter explaining your interest in 
the position and whether you would prefer the fall or winter start date: 
emor...@ucmerced.edu.  Reply before October 1 for 
fall position, before December 20 for winter position.  CA candidates or others 
who could relocated quickly preferred for fall position.
UC Merced is the newest school of the University of California system 
(http://www.ucmerced.edu/).  The campus is small but diverse.  Merced is a town 
of 80 thousand people located in the central valley, and cost of living is low. 
 It is conveniently located 1 hour north of Fresno (the closest airport), 2 
hours east of Berkeley and San Francisco, 2 hours south of Davis and 
Sacramento, and 2 hours west of Yosemite National Park.

Emily Moran
Assistant professor, UC Merced

[ECOLOG-L] Lab & Field Technician Position

[Mark Waldrop]

This position, at the USGS’ Menlo Park, CA, campus, assists the Soil Ecology 
Lab and Soil 
Biogeochemistry group with fundamental research on soil carbon cycling.  The 
overarching goal is to 
study the interactions among mineral assemblages, microbial communities, and 
carbon forms that 
will ultimately inform next-generation carbon cycle models. The incumbent will 
assist with lab and 
field studies that combine spectroscopic, microbial, and isotopic techniques. 
Field studies will be 
focused on climo-chronosequences along the California coastal range near Santa 
Cruz and Mattole, 
CA. Knowledge of soil science and/or geochemistry and experience in basic 
laboratory techniques is 
important.  Experience with isotopes and/or spectroscopy is a plus. $37,443.00 
to $48,682.00 / Per 
Year
To apply to go:
https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/387231600
Job Announcement Number: PAC-2015-0116
Application deadline November 28th!

[ECOLOG-L] Lab/Field technician position

[Valerie Eviner]

Junior Specialist/Research Assistant Position
Department of Plant Sciences, University of California, Davis

This position will focus on determining how an interaction between 
environmental conditions and management/restoration practices influence 
plant community dynamics and multiple soil ecosystem services in California 
grasslands. 

Job duties primarily include:
- 30% Field work (establishing, maintaining and sampling field plots). 
Sampling includes vegetation composition and numerous soil properties and 
processes. This requires:
•   Ability to do physically intensive work, often under wet/cold or 
hot/dry conditions (e.g. taking soil cores, implementing restoration 
trials, plot set up, running irrigation pumps, operating brush hogs)
•   Ability to drive, including on rough dirt roads. Occasional long 
days/ overnight trips to the field are required.
 - 50% Lab work (processing and analyzing plant and soil samples). This 
requires:
•   Precision in working with chemicals and analytical equipment, as 
well as trouble shooting abilities
•   Maintenance of laboratory equipment 
- 10% Data entry and management
- 10% Lab organization (overseeing the logistics of running the lab --e.g. 
managing chemical inventory, safety protocols, hazardous waste removal). 
This requires: 
•   Careful attention to rules and protocols
•   Management of space and resources across multiple users of the lab 
(yourself, graduate students, undergraduate students)
•   Supervision of undergraduate students
•   Training undergraduate and graduate students in protocols, safety

Preference will be given to those applications with experience with plant 
identification, soil sampling, and lab chemistry.

This is a one-year position (with possibility of extension, depending on 
performance and funding).

Requirements: At least a BA or BS in plant ecology, soils, general ecology, 
or related discipline. Previous field and lab experience. Ability to spend 
occasional long days/ over night trips to the field. Ability to drive. 
Ability to work independently, organize personnel, time, and budgets across 
multiple projects. Ability to lead the logistics of multiple projects is 
critical.

Application: Submit a letter of interest, CV, and contact information for 3 
references to:
Valerie Eviner
vevi...@ucdavis.edu
530-752-8538